Surrounded by loving family, Jerry Baker passed away early on September 10th after the sudden onset of acute leukemia.
Here are some tributes appearing on Facebook:
There are a lot of very serious cyclists who have arrived in Seattle in the last 15 years or so who may not realize what cycling would have been like without JB:
*No Cascade Bicycle Club;
*No WA Bikes;
*No Seattle To Portland (STP) event ride;
*No Washington State Bicycle Association (WSBA);
And absolutely there would be no Marymoor Velodrome.
–Phil Miller
Jerry touched so many people for so many years, generations of cyclists and bike racers. He helped build the cross scene we enjoy today, organizing Seattle Cyclocross. He contributed years of service to our local track, helping raise Marymoor’s original funding. He was a pioneer, an original advocate helping to create the Cascade Bicycle Club back in 1970. Jerry “won” the fist STP in 1979! His influence was broad but above all he was loved and admired throughout our community. On any given weekend morning you could find Jerry rolling a Lk WA loop from Pert’s Deli. He was kind, generous, always smiling, and always joyful.
–Russell Stevenson
Our cycling brother has passed but his legacy will live forever.
It was a pleasure to know him, work with him and be a part of many cycling events with this dude.
–Wick
I had the pleasure of spending time with Jerry and his wife Spot (off the bike, mostly at his favorite coffee hangout–Zoka Coffee near University Village) working on an idea for a web site called the Northwest Cycling History Project. Unfortunately the site didn’t get developed in time to capture Jerry’s encyclopedic knowledge of the history of cycling in Seattle.
Condolences to Spot and the rest of the Baker family.
